Warp X Weft: Textile 101

Saturday, September 30th, 2017 10:30am - 12:30pm

Projects

The Britex Blog

It’s almost my favorite time of year: autumn layering time! I looked through the beautiful woven wool fabrics at Britex, but when I saw this raw umber viscose & wool knit, it was love at first sight. I’m not exaggerating when I tell you, if you want it, buy it now. Mark my words, it will sell out.

This DIY linen wrap mini skirt by Geneva of apairandaspairdiy.com is the perfect skirt for the hot summer months. This project is an easy alternative to sewing buttons or zippers. A wrap skirt that ties at the waist that is a really straightforward project. Be sure to check out all the amazing linen fabrics we have both online and in our store. Because this project takes little effort, it is a quick way to create something new before the summer is gone. Now through August 21st, take advantage of our online linen sale, where you will save 20% off of all online linen fabrics!

Here is another awesome project from Geneva of apairandaspare.com! This gorgeous maxi dress with a wrapped front and a ruffled hem can be created in a one block color look or with a cotton print fabric. Keep it simple with one color to have an impactful punch!

The kitchen is probably the most lived-in, yet utilitarian room in the house--so why not brighten it up a bit with our Japanese cotton prints? The quick, easy projects from besthomedecorideas.com include tutorials on dinner napkins, super-fast placemats, pot holders, a table runner, a drawstring produce bag, kitchen cafe curtains, and much more kitchen craftiness. Pick out some prints on the second floor of our brick-and-mortar store, and don't forget your notions--this is the perfect time to use that giant rickrack or dingleball trim that you have secretly been coveting!

Double welt pockets look so scary. There’s little dots, little triangles, blind sewing, to bias or not to bias, more blind sewing with the lining….and the worst part? You’re cutting a hole smack in the middle of fabric. There’s no going back after you cut that hole.Worse? Half the time they’re this unusable, shallow size.
I don’t like fiddley or inefficiency. I think it’s time we knocked double welts off their pedestal. I’ve made a very photo-detailed tutorial with the help of Britex Fabrics, and you’ll be whipping these out in no time. I chose this Midweight Royal Purple Linen for this project.

So crop tops and cute bralettes are all the rage lately - but how do you actually incorporate them into your wardrobe? It may be a bit daring for some, but I love pairing my long line Euler Bralette with a sheer silk shirt! Sewing with silk can be tricky if you haven’t tried it, but there are so many tips on the internet, you can quickly get your bearings!!

This gingham wrap skirt by Geneva of apairandasparediy.com is voluminous and provides just the type of fashion confidence boost a person needs during the summer months. The pattern is included on her blog post, and this project is not recommended for beginners. The gingham fabric that is available in over half a dozen colors on the second floor of our brick-and-mortar store, is not your average run of the mill cotton, but a beautifully smooth, tightly woven fabric!

Bolster pillows are like adorable rolls of candy adorning sofas and beds, and when they're made out of velvet they're even more delicious. Check out this super easy velvet bolster pillow tutorial by Anita from cedarhillfarmhouse.com, and visit the second floor of our brick-and-mortar store to see a selection of velvets in cotton, silk/rayon, viscose, rayon/acetate, poly lycra and more (the term 'velvet' refers to the structure of the fabric rather than the fiber; the pile is always created by raised loops). Velvet fabric has been around since the Middle Kingdom of the ancient Egyptians (approximately 2000 BC), and velvet trims have been found as far back as the Qin and Western Han dynasties in China--so clearly, there's no need to improve on something that was perfect four millennia ago!
For velvet ribbon, please visit us online here or visit the ribbon wall on the second floor of our brick-and-mortar store where we have hand dyed, grosgrain, satin, metallic, silk, velvet, sheer, vintage, and many other types of ribbon.

Capris, sunglasses and a long drink of something refreshing--that's summer! Sunglasses and lemonade (hard or soft) are easy to procure, but capri pants can be tricky--getting them to fit just right is not as simple as you might think. Tasha of bygumbygolly.com offers solutions with a detailed capri project featuring a hidden zipper...so pick out some of the fabulous seersucker stripes or other cottons on the second floor of our brick-and-mortar store, or check out our online cotton inventory here.

Sew yourself a hug! This Cozy Hooded Bath Towel project by abeautifulmess.com invites you to create a custom hooded bath towel that will keep you warm, comfy and proud of your DIY prowess. You can purchase terry cloth fabric along with appliques, patches and bling at our brick-and-mortar store in Union Square. For the complete tutorial, please visit the post by abeautifulmess.comhere.